Nursing students' satisfaction with the quality of clinical placement and their perceptions of preceptors competence: A prospective longitudinal study

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated that preceptor training programs enhance preceptor competence and effectiveness. However, there is little research that has investigated the link between preceptor training and the quality of clinical placement. AimThis study sought to determine if preceptor training influences nursing students' satisfaction with the quality of their clinical placement and their perceptions of preceptor competence. DesignProspective longitudinal survey. MethodsA total of 189 nursing students from two Nursing Training Colleges in the north of Ghana were surveyed before and after a preceptor training program using two validated questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired samples t-test. ResultsThere was a statistically significant increase in student satisfaction with the quality of their clinical placement following preceptors' participation in a preceptor training workshop (t(149) = 4.567, p < 0.001). Student perception of preceptor competence also had a statistically significant improvement following preceptor training, increasing from an average of 136.96 ± 21.45 at baseline to 156.49 ± 25.403 in the follow-up survey (t(142) = 6.731, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the percentage of students who perceived preceptors to be highly competent increased from 23.3 % at baseline to 53.8 % following the preceptor training. ConclusionThe findings from this study indicate that when supported by preceptors who themselves have had training in effective preceptorship, students are more likely to report higher quality clinical placement and perceive preceptors to be more competent.